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Guilty verdict in '09 stabbing

Published: Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 11:24 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 11:28 a.m.

HOUMA — A woman who had faced a possible life prison sentence for the 2009 stabbing that left a housemate dead instead will spend up to five years behind bars.

After about 35 minutes of deliberation, jurors found Melinda Ann Chatelain, 40, guilty of negligent homicide, a far less serious charge than the second-degree-murder conviction prosecutors sought. Negligent homicide carries up to five years in prison. She is scheduled for sentencing Oct. 12 in state District Court Johnny Walker's courtroom.

Chatelain started crying when the verdict was announced. Her attorney, Gregg Graffagnino of Houma, congratulated her.

“My client was very happy,” Graffagnino said. “She realizes that some date in the future she'll be released from jail, and she'll go and put her life back together.”

Chatelain was arrested in June 2009 for stabbing one of her housemates, Roma “Jimmy” Cormier, with a knife at their Gray residence following a fight. Authorities say Chatelain first fought with her boyfriend, Howard Trahan, and then argued with Cormier. Cormier pushed her, and Chatelain stabbed him in the chest, police said.

During the trial, jurors were given the option of convicting Chatelain of second-degree murder, manslaughter or negligent homicide.

Trahan was the sole witness present when the stabbing took place, and he was one of six people who testified during the two-day trial. He said he didn't see the stabbing, but witnessed the preceding argument and saw Cormier push Chatelain.

“He said ‘Let's get out of here, she may try to kill us both,' ” Trahan recalled Cormier saying after he was stabbed.

The knife and a taped interview with Chatelain were among the items introduced as evidence. During the trial, Assistant District Attorney Sam Markus played portions of the audio tape, in which Chatelain confesses to the stabbing.

“He hit me, and I just reacted,” Chatelain says on the tape.

The defense argued the stabbing happened in the heat of the moment, while the prosecution was trying to show she meant to kill or deeply wound her housemate. In the taped interview, however, Chatelain said she cared about Trahan and Cormier.

“I didn't want to hurt them. I loved that man, he was my best friend,” Chatelain says on the tape.

Graffagnino said Chatelain, Trahan and Cormier had all been drinking prior to the stabbing.

Terrebonne sheriff's deputy Gilbert Marcel, the officer dispatched to the home following the stabbing, details in his written report that Chatelain was so drunk when he arrived that she could not stand up. In the audio tape played in court, however, Chatelain describes herself as “buzzed.”

Marcus said the verdict was not the one he sought, but jurors did what they felt was right.

Cormier's family, several of whom sat directly behind Chatelain throughout the trail, called the verdict unacceptable.

“She killed our brother,” said Debbra Levron of Thibodaux. “If you are in the heat of the moment, you don't have to pull knives.”

Staff writer Eric Heisig can be reached at 857-2202 or eric.heisig@houmatoday.com

<p>HOUMA — A woman who had faced a possible life prison sentence for the 2009 stabbing that left a housemate dead instead will spend up to five years behind bars.</p><p>After about 35 minutes of deliberation, jurors found Melinda Ann Chatelain, 40, guilty of negligent homicide, a far less serious charge than the second-degree-murder conviction prosecutors sought. Negligent homicide carries up to five years in prison. She is scheduled for sentencing Oct. 12 in state District Court Johnny Walker's courtroom.</p><p>Chatelain started crying when the verdict was announced. Her attorney, Gregg Graffagnino of Houma, congratulated her.</p><p>“My client was very happy,” Graffagnino said. “She realizes that some date in the future she'll be released from jail, and she'll go and put her life back together.”</p><p>Chatelain was arrested in June 2009 for stabbing one of her housemates, Roma “Jimmy” Cormier, with a knife at their Gray residence following a fight. Authorities say Chatelain first fought with her boyfriend, Howard Trahan, and then argued with Cormier. Cormier pushed her, and Chatelain stabbed him in the chest, police said.</p><p>During the trial, jurors were given the option of convicting Chatelain of second-degree murder, manslaughter or negligent homicide.</p><p>Trahan was the sole witness present when the stabbing took place, and he was one of six people who testified during the two-day trial. He said he didn't see the stabbing, but witnessed the preceding argument and saw Cormier push Chatelain.</p><p>“He said 'Let's get out of here, she may try to kill us both,' ” Trahan recalled Cormier saying after he was stabbed.</p><p>The knife and a taped interview with Chatelain were among the items introduced as evidence. During the trial, Assistant District Attorney Sam Markus played portions of the audio tape, in which Chatelain confesses to the stabbing. </p><p>“He hit me, and I just reacted,” Chatelain says on the tape.</p><p>The defense argued the stabbing happened in the heat of the moment, while the prosecution was trying to show she meant to kill or deeply wound her housemate. In the taped interview, however, Chatelain said she cared about Trahan and Cormier.</p><p>“I didn't want to hurt them. I loved that man, he was my best friend,” Chatelain says on the tape.</p><p>Graffagnino said Chatelain, Trahan and Cormier had all been drinking prior to the stabbing. </p><p>Terrebonne sheriff's deputy Gilbert Marcel, the officer dispatched to the home following the stabbing, details in his written report that Chatelain was so drunk when he arrived that she could not stand up. In the audio tape played in court, however, Chatelain describes herself as “buzzed.”</p><p>Marcus said the verdict was not the one he sought, but jurors did what they felt was right.</p><p>Cormier's family, several of whom sat directly behind Chatelain throughout the trail, called the verdict unacceptable.</p><p>“She killed our brother,” said Debbra Levron of Thibodaux. “If you are in the heat of the moment, you don't have to pull knives.”</p><p>Staff writer Eric Heisig can be reached at 857-2202 or eric.heisig@houmatoday.com</p>